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If playoff teams are supposed to use the last few weeks of theseason to stay sharp and execute the offensive sets that theyare most likely to rely on in the playoffs then the Pacers aretaking full advantage.

This week in “Former Pacers, Where are They Now?”: BradMiller will be retiring at season’s end to focus on his hunting TVshow. I’m really starting to get sick of all these NBA playersthat think they know everything about hunting. Way toencourage the stereotype, Brad.

Leandro Barbosa’s three point shooting is unpredictable to saythe least. Looked pretty brutal in this one, but 50% three pointshooting in the last nine games coming into the game forLeandro the Barbarian (shout out to reader, Jordan, for the solidnickname recommendation).

Speaking of Barbosa, the possibility of LB playing a similar rolein the playoffs to the one that J.J. Barea played for the DallasMavericks last year is tempting to hope for. They obviouslyaren’t the same player, but the instant offense and energy offthe bench is undeniable.

I haven’t seen Brad Miller shoot this much since dove huntingseason.

I really take this sports-writing business seriously, but I’ll admitthat I stopped watching the game for a few minutes in the secondquarter when the Pacers had a 23 point lead in order to watchfootage of the Tupac hologram performance at Coachella lastweekend. I hear Malcolm Lee scored four points while I was gone.I stand by my decision.

As if it needed pointing out, everyone on this Pacers squad isplaying with a very high level of confidence right now.

Well maybe not everyone. Darren Collison looked rusty. But apoint guard controversy might be the only thing that can mess upsuch great chemistry. Let’s just assume DC will be back to playingat a high level by next game.

The play at the end of the second quarter where the Pacers gotfour offensive rebounds punctuated with George Hill slamming ithome off the rim epitomized hustle and energy. The Pacers hadquestionable effort at times of this hectic schedule, but I think it’ssafe to say they weathered the storm. If the effort and executionare there in the playoffs, it will take a whole lot to send this teamhome early.

It's not that the Sixers have collectively cashed in this season that bothersme. It's not that they look like an NBADL team out there that keeps me upat night. I can deal with bad teams. I've dealt with them in the past. There'salways been a reason to watch. The thing that makes this season sounbelievably unbearable is that they had to start out so well. They had toplant that seed of false hope, only to fall to pieces in front of our eyes. I'msure it's not the case, but when you watch them get beat up by the Magicwithout Dwight, you can't help but say to yourself, "They don't even care."

Here's your rotation chart. Note the team played pretty well in the firsteight minutes, only allowing 14 points. Then Spencer Hawes came in andOrlando scored 47 points over the next 16 minutes all with Hawes in themiddle:

This game was an abomination from early on. Jodie Meeks and SpencerHawes kept the Sixers from having about a 15-point lead in the first quarter,then led the charge to a complete defensive collapse in the second quarter.The details are immaterial at this point, this team isn't sinking, they've sunk.And they know it.

Doug Collins has officially taken the "master of panic" mantle from Stan VanGundy, and he's wringing the life out of it. With a back-to-back-to-back onthe schedule, Collins cut Nikola Vucevic out of his rotation and went with a7-man rotation, plus 32 minutes of Spencer Hawes. No one got rest. Theshort-handed Magic didn't have to deal with fresh legs at any point. Collinsmanaged to coach tonight as if it was the 7th game of the Finals and put theteam in an even worse spot heading into the next two games. That's quitean accomplishment.

The players have seemingly packed it in. The coach is clearly panicking. Theonly question is whether there are enough games left in the season for theSixers to fall completely out of the playoff picture.

Re: 4/17/2012 Game Thread #62: Pacers Vs. Sixers

Which one of you said this...

George Hill has started the last few games and been really good. The problem is our bench is terrible now without Hill. Darren Collison doesn't help it. We'd be better off just cutting him from the roster.

Re: 4/17/2012 Game Thread #62: Pacers Vs. Sixers

I don't think that this particular RealGM poster is posting in the Digest. I would have noticed him. He makes vnzla81 sound like a DC fanboy.

Anyway, about the game now.

I hope that we continue to play convincingly like we did last night. I also hope that the Sixers are going to miss their jumpers tonight. When they are missing their jumpers, they can be dealt with. When their jumpers are on, they are still kinda dangerous.

Re: 4/17/2012 Game Thread #62: Pacers Vs. Sixers

. . . I hope that we continue to play convincingly like we did last night. I also hope that the Sixers are going to miss their jumpers tonight. When they are missing their jumpers, they can be dealt with. When their jumpers are on, they are still kinda dangerous.

that description of the sixer's offense reminded me so much of the pacer teams of the last few years. if we shoot well, then we've got a chance. boy am i glad those days are over. it really is nice to have a team that can win without shooting well.

Re: 4/17/2012 Game Thread #62: Pacers Vs. Sixers

I'm going to call this one a "heat check" game.

They've been playing very well, but they've been doing it against lesser teams. Philly is falling apart, but I think we'll get a good effort out of them tonight, and this will be a test of our focus. If they come in overconfident, they could be in trouble. If they come in a little tired (they shouldn't), they could be in trouble.

I think this is a good litmus test for how we're going to handle the playoffs, and I hope the team approaches it with that mindset.